Game 126, Mariners at Rangers
Jeff · August 25, 2005 at 11:01 am · Filed Under Mariners
Today’s question is not “How much will Clint Nageotte sweat?” but “Can Jeff Harris repeat his solid previous performance?” as the minor league vet gets the start. He is opposed by Chris Benoit’s younger brother, Joaquin.
Your lineup:
1 Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2 Willie Bloomquist, 2B
3 Raul Ibanez, LF
4 Richie Sexson, 1B
5 Adrian Beltre, 3B
6 Greg Dobbs, DH
7 Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
8 Jeremy Reed, CF
9 Miguel Ojeda, C
Greg Dobbs again. I almost wish we’d kept Spiezio.
Comments
168 Responses to “Game 126, Mariners at Rangers”
Dobbs at 6 and Reed at 8? Wow.
But the genius of having Dobbs DH is that Morse can pinch hit for him!
Speaking of Spiezio, has anyone told FSN he’s no longer on the team? Because they’re still running that dumb ad with him clowning around and strumming his bat.
Of course the Mariners are still running the “long ball” ad with Pokey in it, which is the only time we’ll actually see him in an M’s uniform this season, so I guess everybody’s in agreement that nobody who cares is actually watching anymore anyway.
And what is Blooooomquist still doing in the #2 spot? How many times does he have to go 0-fer before Hargrove notices he needs somebody in that spot who gets on base?
Did you guys see Joaquin’s brother Chris kick Orlando Jordan’s ass at Summerslam?
Is there any significance to the fact that Angels team physician Lewis Yocum (and not Pedegana) did Campillo’s surgery? I have to say I hope so.
Don’t worry, it’s only a matter of time before Hargrove moves Dobbs into the 2 hole.
For those watching the game – do you think attendance tops 1000? 100 even?
4 — Bill Simonson wrote about it on espn.coom page 2.
The key word there Jeff is “almost”. As for #2 — i noticed that Spiezio ad yesterday and it made me laugh. Him strumming his bat is probably the most contact that bat saw all year and at the very end of it, in an act of great symbolism, Spiezio throws the bat away.
I hate those ads, especially the one with EDE, because it shouws him looking up, like he’s watching a Walk-Off HR leave the yard off of him.
The top five in the order have remained unchanged for quite some time. Hargrove must take the least amount of time to fill out a lineup card than any manager in mlb.
#3. No doubt, I have had it w/ WFB’s .300OBP and .600OPS, especially in the 2-hole. When are these dumb bastardos gonna bring back Lopez?
EDE?
Every Day Eddie I assume?
Who should replace Port Orchard’s finest in the #2 hole? Move Ibanez, Sexson, and Beltre up one spot?
Who should replace Port Orchard’s finest in the #2 hole?
———————————————————
Is that a question of a sexual nature?
We’re seeing remarkably little commentary given that the M’s scored two runs in the top of the 1st.
See the last sentence in my comment #2.
Point taken.
I assume I’m getting Texas coverage in the UK as they’re saying practically nothing about the Mariners. Anyone else think the guy who got Sexsons HR ball was an ass for not giving it to the kid who had been hunting for it?
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20 — I think any adult who craves a homerun or foul ball for themselves is a little wierd and should be made a social outcast until they reform their ways. Foul and homerun balls are for kids.
anyone know what roster move the M’s made to make room for harris? Please, let it be Franklin DFA’d …
I’m just listening to the radio, but in the past I’ve noticed the young bucks who patrol that grassy outfield area in Arlington are particularly competitive in that bad, beery, vitamin-T sort of way. It’s a particularly Hobbesian world out there.
Quite the contrast with the net-wielding guy on the 3rd base line who yesterday snagged a foul and then went looking for a kid to give it away.
No such luck. Nags got sent down temporarily…
Morisseau, looks like Nageotte was sent back to Tacoma. He’s not listed as available pitcher on gameday.
23 — Nageotte sent to Tacoma. Hargrove must be disappointed that he no longer has eight men in the bullpen.
What was the Ibanez error?
#24 what radio station is playing the game? I want to know so I can find its website and listen in from DC
28: Fly bounced off or out of his glove. He was there for it and still didn’t get it. Inexcusable.
what sort of idiot schedules a day game in Arlington in August? (a semi-rhetorical question, as we know it was the sort of idiots that made up the rest of the schedule this year….hopefully the former outfit gets the job back next year)
Ralph Malph said: “Is there any significance to the fact that Angels team physician Lewis Yocum (and not Pedegana) did Campillo’s surgery?”
I wouldn’t think so– it is pretty common for Yocum or others to do Mariner surgeries… IIRC, MacLemore had his elbow cleaned out by the Rangers’ orthopaedist
Beltre is becoming the new Senor Doble
A Florida Marlins batboy earned himself a six-game suspension from the team for accepting a dare to drink a gallon of milk in less than an hour without throwing up, according to a report in The Miami Herald.
The Herald says Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny (who was traded by the Marlins to L.A. last season) offered the unidentified boy $500 last Sunday if he could accomplish the task.
Penny reportedly said that the batboy drank the gallon of milk in the allotted time, but was not able to keep it down.
”It’s kind of ridiculous that you get a 10-game suspension for steroids and a six-game suspension for milk,” Penny said.
As a result, the batboy will not be allowed to work the team’s upcoming homestand Aug. 29-Sept. 4 vs. the Cardinals and Mets.
The Marlins refused to comment on the suspension.
”It’s ridiculous that they worry about stuff like that,” Penny said. “It shows they (the Marlins organization) don’t know anything about the game. That kind of stuff goes on everywhere. It didn’t affect the way he worked, the way he did his job.”
Why was the batboy suspended but not Penny?
24: He just got another one right then. Talk about contrast.
Why was the batboy suspended at all? That’s strange….
33 — Penny is no longer a Marlin. They would have a hard time suspending him. But Penny’s right. It is ridiculous. Franklin missed 9 games (10 days) for performance enhancers.
So our third straight game in Texas in August, today’s a day game no less, it’s a lost season, and NOBODY gets a day off! Seems like a great day to have Strong in and Ichiro resting. Or rest Sexson, your over-30 $50-million investment. Or Beltre’s hamstring. Or Raul, who I think has started every game.
Hargrove really overdoes this set lineup bit. At least this time he’s not starting the same catcher in the day game after the night game, which he’s also done a couple times this year.
Todd said: “Foul and homerun balls are for kids.”
unless it almost hits you in the face. Or literally lands in your lap. I kept those.
Ralph Malph said:”Why was the batboy suspended but not Penny?”
because the suspension was given by the Marlins, not MLB, and they have no power to suspend a Dodger.
I don’t think MLB allows any of the radio stations that carry games to webcast them. I’d love to find out I’m wrong, however.
If you charge the mound on Joaquin, will he give you the rolling German suplexes and put you in the Crossface?
That said, I’m glad we have a pitcher who doesn’t suck starting for a change.
39: Only the Blue Jays station you can pick up CFAN in Toronto over their free webcast. But it must be because they’re Canadian because that’s the only station that broadcasts MLB games over internet radio free.
37 — I agree. And wasn’t Morse suppose to get start in LF today. Strong and Morse should have started today to give some regulars rest. And Hansen could have started as well. I really find Hargrove’s use of his bench players and his (in)ability to find them starts in the appropriate places disturbing.
Hey, how’s Jose Lopez doing in Tacoma? His numbers look good, but I had heard there were certain aspects of hitting they wanted him to work on… What’s the timetable on bringing him up (so the M’s have a real 2nd baseman on the roster) and putting Bloomie back on the bench where he belongs?
Why isn’t Strong being given even a chance to start? I’d rather see him out there than Dobbs.
Harris appears to be pitching decently, especially in Arlington. I believe that he would be better as a long middle reliever, but, right now, he is the second or third best starter for the M’s.
So, what’s the deal with Harris? Might he be a good replacement for Franklin next year as a spot starter (not as the team ‘roids fiend)?
Hansen?
Seriously, Hansen?
And yeah, Hargrove’s managerial style isn’t exactly conducive to keeping parts of the roster from rotting on the bench. I miss Lou for that.
Grover’s lineup:
Ichiro
Willie
Ibanez (may be switched with Sexson)
Sexson
Beltre
… other players Grover has to put in the lineup
Catcher-of-the-day
Not counting Sexson’s flu or Beltre’s hamstring days, I’m guessing the total “just take a day off” days for Ichiro, Raul, Sexson and Beltre combined is about 2. Ichiro especially I think needs to be rested twice a month or so, but it sure ain’t happening.
And yeah, Hargrove’s managerial style isn’t exactly conducive to keeping parts of the roster from rotting on the bench.
Just what exactly are Grover’s strengths supposed to be? I figure if someone tells me what he does well, I can stop focusing on what he doesn’t do.
I’m trying to figure out the whole baseball skipper thing. I’m not sure how one would select a great manager but I sure know when I don’t see any spark or imagination.
I do think a rebuilding team ought to be playing the guys who will likely be in place the following season. Which is what scares me about this year. Does Grover really think that Dobbs and The Igniter will be opening day starters? Should Ibanez really be playing left field anywhere? He has developed into a nice DH, let’s not get too carried away.
The following things need to happen to make any non-Felix game watchable.
1. Bring up Bucky! No more Dobber DH.
2. Bring back Lopez, and make WFB a PH.
3. Hire anyone — anyone — and kick Ryan Franklin to the curb. Give a gimmick contract to one of the kids from the Little League World Series, or some sort of animal. According to the motion picture industry, there’s nothing in the rulebook that says an orangutan can’t play baseball.
4. Move Beltre to the 2-hole. He had a bad first two months, but the guy is actually pretty good now. He leads the team in doubles, and has been hitting around .280/.330/.500 since early June.
5. Or if you must keep Franklin, make him go out there in a dress. I’d watch that.
It is unclear what Harris’ role ultimately will be, or whether this is a mirage (likely, to some degree), but frankly, he is giving me one more little reason to sort of be interested in the M’s right now.
Edgar is Go(o)d said:”Ichiro especially I think needs to be rested twice a month or so, but it sure ain’t happening.”
None of Ichiro’s managers have managed to get him to take a lot of days off.
I was entertained by this piece on Melvin out of Phoenix today
Meanwhile, in the Twin Cities, it’s 1-1 in the 10th as the battle of punchless offenses continues into another day..
Go Betty!
Who’s winning the game?
According to a post by jc yesterday Bucky can hardly run to first base right now. And if jc says it, it must be true.
WFB as a pinch-hitter?
Beltre in the 2-hole??
I would rather see an orangutan in a dress than RF in anything.
Or better yet, is anyone watching the game?
And I found this email from seattlemariners.com in my inbox the other day:
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The jokes are starting to write themselves here, folks…
3-1 Ms 7th inning stretch
It seems to me if there is one thing that is especially indicative of why this offense is so hapless is the guys who have been hitting in the 6th hole (Boone, Reed, Dobbs), generally an area of production for decent offenses (Mench with Texas, for instance). The first thing that needs to get fixed with this offense is finding someone (FA? Bucky? Lopez?) who can do a little damage there.
There’s a game on? I thought this was just a sort of turing test, with automated scripts posting comments copied from earlier game threads…
What happened here? Dobbs scoring from first on a single???
“Y Betancourt singled to left, G Dobbs scored.
G Dobbs safe at first on error by left fielder D Dellucci.”
It seems to me if there is one thing that is especially indicative of why this offense is so hapless is the guys who have been hitting in the 6th hole (Boone, Reed, Dobbs), generally an area of production for decent offenses (Mench with Texas, for instance). The first thing that needs to get fixed with this offense is finding someone (FA? Bucky? Lopez?) who can do a little damage there.
I think Ibanez is perfectly suited for the role of the #6 hitter. And Brian Giles or someone like him would be beautiful in the three spot. Needless to say, our problem is not having a #3 hitter right now in order to push Ibanez to his best suited role of sixth in the line-up. Giles would certainly be my first choice this off-season if there’s anyway in hell we could pull that off.
Dobbs hit a fly ball that was bobbled/dropped in left by Dellucci, so it was scored as a single+error, leaving him at second. YuBet singled to left allowing Dobbs to score.
Hmmm, that’s a double-play to don’t see very often. And I didn’t see this one either. Sounds like Ibañez made up for his error.
Thank you Raul.
And I’m starting to like the idea of Harris as spot starter in 2006. He ain’t great, but he’s doing a better job than Franklin. Do his secondary numbers suggest he’s decent?
Willie has settled back nicely into the .250s, to go with that stellar low-.600 OPS.
#65, maybe it was a bobbled hit and run. (?)
#56 Mr malph you go see bucky and tell me he can run at all?The poor guys leg is shot man thats the facts unfortunatley.Jeff Harris he is dealing today trhis is great to see.
The 1999-2002 Giles I’d take in a heartbeat. But his declining HR numbers since then aren’t encouraging. I also don’t see SD trading him, but I guess anything is possible given their willingness to take plug nickles from the M’s.
Hahah Texas has 4 errors
Giles is a free agent in the offseason. His aggregate numbers are nice too – sans the HRs, since Petco suppresses big flies for lefties similarly to how Safeco does the same to righties.
His OBP? .422
I’d take that in the 3rd spot of the batting order, anytime!
#3, Hargrove subscribes to the Dick Williams lighthitting middle infielder bats second no matter what school of managing. When Grover was in Cleveland lots of people gave him guff about batting Omar second. And Omar’s .341 career OBP is something Bloomy can only dream about.
ah, Gilesy. From the Union Tribune today: “The price of Brian Giles is going up. Last night, the Granite Hills High graduate fell a homer short of becoming the first Padre to hit for the cycle. His 3-for-5 effort pushed his season average to .299, and he is four walks shy of triple digits. In addition to walks – a category in which he leads the majors – Giles paces the Padres in runs scored, hits, doubles and RBI. He ranks fourth in the National League in on-base percentage. And he is getting hotter – going 13-for-28 in his last six games with six RBI. So how much would Giles be worth? Giles is making $7 million this season. And teams such as the Cardinals, who tried to trade for Giles last night, might be in the bidding.”
#66, I can’t believe Harris is for real, but wouldn’t it be great if he was?
Giles is about the only FA left-fielder that excites me. It would have to be a short-term deal; three years-max and two years preferably, but for that short term I’d be willing to pay him a very nice chunk of change. He’d give us another MOTO hitter, not to mention another lefty stick, and that OBP is beatiful. I hope we make a run at him, as long as it doesn’t prevent us from having money to upgrade our pitching.
To restate the obvious, it sure would’ve been nice to be able to plug Doyle in the 2nd or 3rd spot in the order…
Reed must be moved back to 2nd in the lineup.
NOW!!!
Reed has been a major disappointment.
And yet Reed has a better OBP than Bloomquist.
Bloomquist is a major disappointment.
But you do have to give Bloomquist some credit. His SB:CS ratio is much, much better than Reed’s. The outs that WFB has made at the dish probably still are significantly more than the outs that Reed has made while attempting to steal, once on base…
I’m not a Bloomquist hater. Let’s just put it this way – the M’s have been a major disappointment.
I wouldn’t get too excited about Giles coming to Seattle. Not because he’s not a good player, but because his brother Marcus is still with the Braves and has openly admitted he’d like Brian to come to Atlanta. At least that’s what Marcus told Jim Rome a few weeks ago.
I still think the right guy to bat second is Ibanez. Move Ibanez and Richie up one spot each. It gets out machines like WFB fewer at-bats, and gets our three best hitters into the top three spots.
The M’s should find a sponsor for the obligatory “Hansen PH for catcher-of-the-day” moment.
Alright! Hargrove once again uses 75% of his bench for a single move. (Hansen-Strong-JoeJessica)
I could have lived with 82 wins this year. Eighty two! That didn’t seem like too much to ask for. What will I get… 65? 70?
I Heart Jamal.
Ichiro is cool too.
ICHIROOOOOOOOU!
Ichisalami.
I wonder what the Japanese equivalent of rye bread and mustard is. Maguro sashimi?
“Get out the fresh tuna and ohashi, it is grand wasabi time!”
GRAND SALAMI!!!!!!!!!!!!
No way!!! Did Ichiro really hit a Grand Salami?!!
Grand Salami!
Strange managing: IBB to Reed, Loogy for Hansen bringing up strong who singles and now a Grand Slam for Ichiro.
Holy Shit! What did they do to piss Ichiro off?
Didn’t Giles veto a trade here in 2002 or 2003? A year that we were actually good? Why in the world would he sign here?
Bring that man the finest meats and cheeses!
About *&$% time for him to get a hit.
In reference to Giles, I seem to remember that he vetoed a trade because he wanted to stay in the NL. Maybe he fears being turned into a DH.
92–Don’t forget Obachan!
So is Eddie going to pitch in a non-save situation, or would Hargrove actually give J.J. a shot at the save?
The feel good moment of the day — Justin Thompson coming into the game.
Yes, this is the same Justin Thompson who used to start for Detroit. He was traded to Texas after the ’99 season as part of the package for Juan Gonzalez (back when he was good), got hurt and hadn’t thrown a pitch since the trade until a couple of days ago — in SIX YEARS! He was was paid 4 1/2 million bucks by Texas for ’00 and ’01 and he’s kept trying to come back and stayed with the Rangers — and he’s finally made it back!
Never mind that he apparently isn’t any good anymore (giving up a GS to Ichiro), just making it back for even one appearance is amazing after all this time…
Bloomquist’s ground out is today’s Magnolia Moment (TM).
Michael Young’s intro music is “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Reminds me, former brat packer Paul Anka recently recorded a big band swing version of the Nirvana single. It’s awesome.
Oh man…why can’t I watch him hit a salami??? DAMNIT!
There must be, uh, what, 800 people in the stands?
I guess someone would have said it by now were it true but… was that Ichiro’s first grand slam in MLB?
106 – Can’t beat Pat Boone’s metal album. I love Pat Boone singing with Ronnie Dio.
So apparently the right time to use your best relief pitcher is with a 7 run lead starting the 9th inning.
Jeff, try “bring out the chop sticks and soj sauce as its grand spring roll time”
I am still puzzled about the intentional walk to Reed.
111, Eddie was already warmed up, it’s a day game, and he needs work. I don’t see any real harm in it. It’s not like Hargrove waited until after we went up 7 and said, “get Eddie in there.”
Nah, it’s soy sauce and WASABI, guys….
People you’d rather face than an M’s catcher or an M’s bench player.
You’ve got to be really bad before that’s true. I’d have walked Reed, too. And Reed set up the force.
Mmmm, grand sashimi…
Lauren, acc. to Retrosheet.org, Ichiro had two Grand Slams in ’03, one vs. KC, one vs. Boston.
Any more of these Jeff Harrises floating around for free right now? Can we bench Franklin/Franklero (if not flat out release him) in favor of this new acquisition?
Jeff (Shaw, not Harris) — looks like the answer to your question was a resounding yes.
jason
OK, so we agree — Harris deserves Franklin’s spot in the rotation. Is that a promotion from Meche’s spot? And who gets whichever spot is left over?
Well, WE agree….hope the brain trust comes to that conclusion, too. Ya’d think tht Franklin is not long for the Ms in any case…
Paul Anka singing Smells Like Teen Spirit, eh? So is Robert Goulet going to put out a version of All Apologies next? Damn you Courtney Love!!!
On another note, maybe they should revamp the Ibanez-Ichiro batters box commercial so that Ichiro says, “I hit grand salamis in mine” followed by Ibanez saying, “Oh yes you do Ichiro, yes you do.”
I think Ichiro hitting HRs is like: Well I’m not going to hit .350 this year but if I hit 20 HR’s before the season’s out these American’s will go ape $#@! over it.
How many games has Ichiro hit a HR when the game is basically over with?
But maybe he is tired of running around the bases and just wanted to jog a bit?
Ichiro’s aproach at the plate is so different from last season, it’s clear he’s trying to do different things.
Last year it looked like he was trying to tap the ball just enough to get it to the outfield grass in left. Now he torques his body as the pitcher delivers and drives the ball. It seems he hits more grounders to the right side, and he hits the ball in the air more.
But he also hits the ball harder.
TheM’s media book shows two other Ichiro Slams: 7/18/03 at KC, and 8/15/03 vs. Boston.
Mike Hargrove has drawn a lot of criticism. Earlier in this thread for not giving some time off for Reed and Ibanez, for example.
He’s got to feel he’s landed in baseball hell. His lineups seem to be influenced from the office of Buzz-Cut Bill…sticking with Boone as long as he did and Olivo and then Rivera plays well and gets dumped back to AA, Morse plays well and then gets sat.
Beltre’s out there every day proving how critical one year contracts are to performance…Sexson cruises along and gets his numbers, Ichiro plays out of position and Grover can’t do anything about it..he’s saddled with a popular pitching coach who can’t turn a pig’s ear into a silk purse…
Strong is not going to play in the majors…they’ll run Lopez up here again and he’ll show he’s a corner guy not a middle infielder…
I’d be amazed if Grover thinks that its possible to turn things around with this mix of players and the current GM and asst. GM.
Ichiro! is getting older and realizes that his speed will only last so long. I think he is in a transition to make himself a #2 or #6 guy with 20-30 homer power and less of the trying to beat out the infield single guy. His legs will eventually slow down to just above human average from their lofty super human status and his adjustments now will add another 5 years or so to his career. Now if he would just take a few more pitches he’d be perfect. Go Mariners!
His infield hits were down last year, though. He was rolling balls into the outfield.
Re: 56
I saw Bucky in Tacoma Monday night. He looked just fine running to first base. He actually got into a “big guy” sprint for a weakly hit grounder to second base.
(Hands down, he’d beat out Edgar and Olerud in the 30 yard dash!)
Hands down, he’d beat out Edgar and Olerud in the 30 yard dash!
True, but in a race like that even Stephen Hawking would have a shot.
Last year was the aberration for Ichiro. % of EB hits:
01-20.7%
02-20.7%
03-23.6%
04-14.1%
05-22.9%
Also of note: 01-04 2B/3B ratio = 3.9, 05 2B/3B ratio = 1.4. He’s apparently using the RF line more.
Dobbs has hit in the last three games. Which is three more games than Spezio would have hit in.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ichiro is doing something, knows exactly what he’s doing, and the rest of us will figure it out eventually.
I remember that grand slam against Boston. I was watching the game in the bar at Maneki (great place to watch a game btw — excellent sushi at reasonable prices, japanese beer in the big bottles, and an ancient but hilarious lady bartender who runs a tight ship and doesn’t miss a thing). When Ichiro hit the grand slam the place went absolutely batsh!t.
RickL: It’s more like 40 games more than Spezio would have hit in.
Im turning into a huge Inedependent baseball fan with harris and sherril and mads .Maybe we should name Kerfeld GM atleast he can find talent and evaluate it.
BRIAN GILES (# 101) – Once we had a chance to get him, but declined. (The Pirates wanted RYAN ANDERSON and GIL MECHE.)
In one of his better moments, the infamous “Mike Schmidt”–now incarcerated, IIRC–said that whenever someone offers you a trade like that, you jump through the phone to make it.
Last I heard, the Ms were still looking for a power-hitting left-fielder, and Anderson and Meche are long gone. *
_______
*Meche isn’t really long-gone; he just looks long-gone.
#136, that’s not really fair.
If someone offered a big trade now (pick your favorite player: Puljos, Beltran, anyone) for Felix, would you do it?
No. But in 2008 after felix’s third arm surgery, we’d all be making posts similar to your’s. Hindsight really is 20/20.
Ichiro is now a homerun hitter? (Heh.)
How many will he hit this year? Over 20?
I wonder what Ichiro will do next year. 30 hrs and 100 RBIs?
Now if only he could raise that OBP and still hit over .300.
I think the Mariners are 2 pitchers away and a lefty power bat from competing next year… With that said the Giants have been rumored saying they would trade Bonds to an AL team… So why not Seattle just jump on that deal and do it or get Brian Giles if one of those deals go through heres how I believe our lineup should be…
1. Ichiro RF (L)
2. Lopez (2B)(R)
3. Bonds/Giles DH (L)
4. Sexson 1B (R)
5. Beltre 3B (R)
6. Ibanez LF (L)
7. Torrealba C (R)
8. Reed CF (L)
9. Betancourt SS (R)
Not a bad lineup at all especially when you consider the balance of lefties and righties in the lineup and what a headache it could mean for opposing managers late in the game… Maybe if Snelling can come back than we can use him as a guy off the bench along with Morse…
Pitching rotation I think we will add 2 guys who they may be between Millwood/Burnett/Matasazuka….
That would leave us with…
1. Millwood/Burnett
2. Millwood/Burnett/Matasuzaka
3. Hernandez
4. Moyer
5. Madritsch/Harris/Pineiro/Meche/Livingston/Foppert
A rotation like that isn’t bad at all but we have to pour out some money to get it… But by getting 2 starters and 1 big lefty I feel we can compete… We got the money why not use it before Ichiro ages to much…
Hey Dave I am curious how many seasons did Joe Mauer spend in the minors? The reason I ask is because I would like to see Jeff Clement up next year sometime since hes a lefty power threat and that is something we need…
Mauer played rookie ball as an 18-year old, low-A as a 19-y.o., and split his time between high-A and AA as a 20-y.o. Then he skipped AAA altogether and went to the bigs, and he’s been there ever since.
Conceivably, Clement could advance more quickly, since he’s more experienced and older, but the main thing that got Mauer through the minors so quickly was his defense. Right now, he’s second in the AL to Ivan Rodriguez in CS% among qualifiers. Pitchers often praise his ability to catch a good game. Until Clement shores up his reportedly shaky defense, he’ll be stuck in the minors.
Re #137: FWIW, I would have taken that deal in a heartbeat, if it was actually offered — and I would have regretted giving up Meche more than the Little Unit. I was always in favor of dealing Ryan Anderson, if we could get a big-enough return, because I never thought his arm would hold up.
Re #51 and the idea of Beltre in the #2 hole: are you aware that Beltre has a .297 OBP over the last two months?
It’s silly to expect Clement to be up next year. He has played 23 professional games.
On the other hand, after 19 games in Wisconsin he’s batting 324/420/529, with 4 HR in 68 AB. 11 BB and 12 K. He doesn’t seem to be having much trouble with A-level pitching.
Mauer played 3 seasons in the minors. On the other hand he’s only 4 months older than Clement.
So, might Ichiro get 20 HRs this year? If so, will all of baseball look at him in a whole new way? Perhaps even revive the occasional “Ichiro could hit homers any time he wants” debate?
No way Bonds is coming to Seattle. No way, no how. I can see him moving over to the AL to DH, assuming he doesn’t just walk (or hobble) away from baseball altogether, but the only teams I would expect to see him even talk to are:
1. The Angels (he lives in SoCal, if memory serves he packed the family up and moved to Beverly, Hills that is: swimming pools, movie stars…)
2. The A’s (because it’s the Bay Area, though I don’t think he thinks he owes the fans there anything)
It’s possible the A’s would open up their pocketbook to get him just for the marquee value, but he probably thinks he’s worth far more than they’d be willing to pay. Beane understands marketing but he isn’t insane. The Angels, on the other hand, will do anything to raise their profile in SoCal. I believe he’s even said the Angels are his team of choice.
Whatever the case, there is zero chance he’d come play half his games in Safeco.
Well than we need to sign Giles preferabley… Or Konerko even though hes a righty he can hit 35-40 HRs…
Boy’s and Girls;
Who here really wants Bonds? Really? I remember the trade with the Bay Bomers for homer hitting Kevin Mitchell. “They won’t throw fast balls to me”. No duh! send us a team of 20 homer guy’s, we could win then. That is, IF our pitchers woudn’t throw goffer balls!
Ernie
Who here really wants Bonds? Really?
Me. Yes.
Me too.
Saying Barry Bonds is better than Kevin Mitchell is like saying Wally Pipp shouldn’t have gotten his job back.
Regarding Bonds, great player and certainly worth thinking about having on your team. Personally, I’d rather have him be my problem during games and someone else’s problem before and after games. Besides, I can’t think of any reason why he’d leave San Francisco -and that includes money unless his godfather Willie Mays is cool with him taking the big bucks elsewhere.
By the way, covers of ground-breaking songs such as teen spirit are a pet peeve of mine but it to have done it with swing is so off the wall it was interesting, in a train-wreck sort of way.
Any reason to believe that Harris will be able to continue pitching well, or is he the 2005 version of Franklin (the minor leaguer who finally makes it to the bigs)? I want to hope, but I just have nagging doubts. It certainly would be nice to have another independant league pitcher come in and do well.
And while I would rather have Griffey than Bonds, it would be like saying I would rather have Black Butte Porter rather than Guinness (its more local). Bonds would be a sweet addition to the M’s.
I wouldn’t count on Harris producing at a really high level forever. His success in a few outings now is coming from a very low BABIP, and his pereipheral numbers are less than outstanding — his HR rate and walk rate are nothing to write home about, and his K rate is quite low.
However, these numbers were better in the minors, and are not a large sample even there; he’s only started 13 games all year at any level. And the Mariners’ defense doesn’t look to get any worse anytime soon. Stranger things have happened.
But also rememeber he’s extremely old (31) for a “prospect”, especially against AA batters, which he SHOULD be obliterating. I don’t think he’s going to be a regular starter in 2006 and beyond. Might be a useful spare part in the pen. On the other hand, on this staff, mediocre pitchers have a chance to be the class of the field, and even outright crappy ones can hold down jobs.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is BARRY Bonds you’re talking about? As DH? Good lord, of COURSE you want him. Even if he can’t run at all, even if his lower extremities make Edgar look like a gazelle, even if he’s at 50% or even 35% of full power, and yes, even if he’s guilty as hell, you want that. Think about it: massive power, and on base half the time. HALF! Good lord. Roll him out there in a wheelchair. This is the best hitter of all time, folks, not friggin’ Kevin Mitchell.
Thanks Steve. Harris is such a good baseball story that other things get brushed over. But I wonder how he would project out against the guy who he should replace, Franklin. It seems like Harris could be very competant in that 5th starter/long reliever role that Franklin should have (okay for 10-15 starts, bad news if it is 20+).
Why do people keep putting weak hitters like Lopez and Reed in the #2 hole? Why not just move up your better hitters?
What people are putting Lopez and Reed in the 2 hole? I see Bloomquist out there every day.
Reed obviously isn’t there because he wasn’t getting on base enough. Why Bloomquist is there I’m not sure.
Lopez didn’t play a single game in the 2 hole when he was up.
It isn’t unreasonable to project him as a future 2 hitter. He has posted a 325/360/528 line in Tacoma, which doesn’t sound like a “weak hitter” to me. If he comes close to those numbers ultimately as a major league hitter, he could hit anywhere in the lineup.
155. I don’t know, do I really want him? Let me think about that for a minute.
He can hit, but he likes drama and puts himself ahead of his team and considers almost the entire world to be beneath him. Plus he’s 41, has supposedly been injured all year, and coud face a long-term suspension down the road. Sounds like damaged goods to me.
Hmmm, no. But if you want him on the Mariners, be my guest. Just don’t be mad when he starts to show his age at the plate, starts complaining about the ballpark, a la Junior, and picks a fight with Ichiro. Because I can very easily see those three things happening if he came here.
Bonds likes drama? Huh?
Puts himself ahead of the team? Give me one instance — one — where Bonds has on the field done something selfish that is clearly to the detriment of his team.
“supposedly” injured? Do you think he faked knee surgery? Why would you do that?
Could face a long-term suspension down the road? Huh? Potentially, doesn’t that apply to everyone?
And when has Bonds ever picked a fight with anyone?
That you “very easily” see these things happening does not mean they are indeed actual risks.
Weather Harris is a reliever are a starter are nothing at all it is a great story.The real question i have is how does Kerfield find 4 guys to pitch in the majors out of the indy leagues?2nd question why did they let him go?
Think if we got Bonds in the 3 hole followed by Sexson, Beltre and Ibanez… Those are 3 hitters that could have big seasons… You put the hottest one behind Bonds they have to pitch to him… How many HRs you think he can hit?
DMZ, I’m sorry but I just don’t like the guy. He’s had many instances of not running out balls he should’ve run hard on, including when he was in his 20s and not hurt frequently. He’s gotten in the face of a manager like Jim Leyland, an incident that a lesser player would’ve been DFA’d for immediately. I also remember a game in ’95 when he said “F*ck the fans” when asked about being booed over dropping a fly ball. That’s not the way to mend fences after a strike. Plus, when a teammate like Jeff Kent doesn’t like you, that should tell you something.
I’ll admit to crossing the line when it comes to questioning his injury. I thought I had a valid reason for doing so in light of the steroid allegations and the timing of the announcement, but that’s still no excuse. However, his years of open contempt towards anyone he perceives as beneath him  fans, media, some teammates  make it easy to take cheap shots at him.
I’m not disputing his accomplishments, and if he healthy he could be a vital cog to the Mariner lineup. I’m just saying that like T.O., Bonds eventually will no longer be worth the headache.
He’s had many instances of not running out balls he should’ve run hard on, including when he was in his 20s and not hurt frequently.
Uhhh… many, many players do this. Sexson is horrible about this.
He’s gotten in the face of a manager like Jim Leyland, an incident that a lesser player would’ve been DFA’d for immediately.
Jim Leyland’s had personality problems of his own.
I also remember a game in ‘95 when he said “F*ck the fans†when asked about being booed over dropping a fly ball. That’s not the way to mend fences after a strike.
Uh huh. I can’t find a cite for that. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but I’m highly skeptical.
Plus, when a teammate like Jeff Kent doesn’t like you, that should tell you something.
Uh… if Jeff Kent doesn’t like someone, that’s almost a recommendation. It’s not like being on Jamie Moyer’s bad side.
Most of your points are valid, but I still don’t like him. Also, how is Jeff Kent not liking someone almost a recommendation? And I believe, and all I can go on obviously is belief, that Bonds would get on Moyer’s bad side if he were here.
Aside from that, I’ll agree to disagree on Bonds and look forward to tonight and El Duque vs. El Rey.
Also, how is Jeff Kent not liking someone almost a recommendation?
Jeff Kent is, by almost all accounts of ex-teammates, as colossal a jerk as you believe Barry Bonds to be.
Way I heard it, Bonds >IS
Bonds is unquestionably the biggest jerk around — to reporters. He hates reporters. Big deal. The reporters report that “Bonds is a jerk, you should hear what he said to me, I’ve never been so offended.” Meanwhile Bonds is laughing, and most of his peers are laughing, too.
Having TV reporters hate you does not indicate bad character.
Besides, who cares if he’s a jerk? One of the Mariners’ weaknesses is their fondness for upright citizens who can’t play baseball. Maybe Bonds’s need for psychodrama with the media is pathological. Who cares? If he’s jerking baseballs as hard as he’s jerking TV meatheads, he’s a huge asset.
Besides, you say “he likes drama”. Guess what: so do I. I’d like to see some heart-stopping dramatic three-run homers occasionally, wouldn’t you? In baseball games drama is generally speaking a good thing.
Note that I said games. Afterwards in the locker room, in front of the microphones, answering all those penetrating “how do you feel” questions, who gives a flying floop? People who watch that crap deserve to be killed.